It's an all-too-familiar a story: the crime rate seems to be rising, and the stories target women as the victims.

And next we see the politicians promoting safety by encouraging "self-defense" classes, such as the one portrayed on the front page of your August 16th edition of the Forest Hills Times.

Perhaps instead of these self-serving photo ops, just maybe the politicians could acknowledge the Supreme Court's Heller decision, which came right out and said the Second Amendment is still the law of the land in this country.

It's time to cross out the Sullivan Act and its brethren, and give city residents back their "unalienable right" to acquire, train with, and use their chosen tools of self defense.

And note that in New York City it's not only illegal to own a gun, but lesser equipment such as nunchaku, tasers, and mace are similarly forbidden.

Let's give people the chances and choices the Founding Fathers authorized.